Download Windows Live Writer 2012
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Why is this blog post called "Download Windows Live Writer 2012?" Because that's all I wanted to do. I love Live Writer. If you love it too, put a note in the comments and maybe the team will notice, because I will carry Windows Live Writer with me until you pry it from my cold, dead hands. I use Windows Live Writer exclusively for writing my blog posts and I recommend you use it too. Windows Live Writer is the best windows blog authoring application I have found so far.
This post now exists so when I google for download Windows Live Writer I will find it.
The TL;DR version of this post is this:
- You can download Windows Live Writer 2012 here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials or here for a list of all the languages it's available in http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/download-windows-essentials
- Make sure you have .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 if you don't already.
I googled with Google for "Windows Live Writer 2012" and got this mess, including the slightly creepy "you visited this page on" message. Um, thanks for noticing.
* These images are poorly resized on purpose you don't think they are clickable.
When I googled with Bing for "Windows Live Writer 2012" I got this mess. Three results from a bunch of evil download sites that I don't trust because they will just install toolbars and I'm generally afraid of them.
The second link looks promising since it's at Microsoft's own Download Center, BUT the date is from 2009.
Finding this thing is too hard so this blog post exists so you can find it and because I felt like complaining a little. Just a little.
Again, the point of this post is this:
- You can download Windows Live Writer 2012 here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials or here for a list of all the languages it's available in http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/download-windows-essentials
- Make sure you have .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 if you don't already.
Have a nice day!
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
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August 05, 2013 23:02
While this post will prove useful, I also suggest the use of bookmarks / favorites in your browser. I hear they can be useful for remembering links :)
Greg Sohl
For my WordPress based Blog, I actually have stopped using LiveWriter and simply used the editor interface. While I do enjoy the Livewriter interface, I simply cut back and went straight to the provided editor. Would love to read an article (written by you) on why you like Livewriter...e.g., your uses of the tool.
You are a major influence in this sphere, so it would be great to get a tips and tricks.
You are a major influence in this sphere, so it would be great to get a tips and tricks.
I've been using Chocolatey for this lately: http://chocolatey.org/packages/WindowsLiveWriter
I'm in the process of rewriting the blog module for DotNetNuke. One of the cherished bits of code is the WLW integration (i.e. implementation of Metaweblog API). I can spend hours on getting a tiny detail right. Why? Well, because WLW is the de-facto standard for blogging tools. Just the fact that you can embed images, fine-tune them, and have them automatically sent over is what should win you over. Why it is not more trumpeted by Microsoft is beyond me. It is too important to fade away, people.
Peter
Peter
Aaron - I use WLW for Images and PreCode for code snippets. I find the things like image resizing, auto linking, spell check and on and on just too rich to move to the browser...yet.
Now, if only the team would produce a version that ran as a Windows Store app!
Nice tip! In my opinion Windows Live Writer covers everyone's needs. It simply works for beginners, medium and expert bloggers.
I concur with Aaron above. I've found the WordPress editor to suffice for now even though I previously used Windows Live Writer. I, too, would be interested in why you prefer Live Writer to anything else.
I would cut off my right hand for a WinRT version. Maybe it could be my next project 😊
Scott nailed it - image handling alone is a big reason I use WLW. Word has a blogging template but it handles images horribly and misses on other areas as well.
WLW is by far the best blogging tool ever.
WLW is by far the best blogging tool ever.
I do love WLW, I've been using it for a while and don't plan on changing soon. I hope Microsoft will continue maintain it for ever! A Win8 app would be great so I could use it from WinRT!
I totally agree Scott. I tell everyone about it for blogging. It is the easiest editor I have used.
I use WLW heavily for my posts. There are few short comings where it doesn't create backups. There are have been many a times when the tool crashed and I had to rewrite my post from the beginning even though I had saved it n number of times.
I sometimes tend to use MS Word to write the post and publish. However the formatting of word doesn't match the formatting in the blog.
This is where I again comeback to WLW, it is by far the best and the only available tool (AFAIK) with great add-ons. They can make a great tool. I am not sure why MS is not paying any attention to such a great functionality.
Regards,
Kaushal
I sometimes tend to use MS Word to write the post and publish. However the formatting of word doesn't match the formatting in the blog.
This is where I again comeback to WLW, it is by far the best and the only available tool (AFAIK) with great add-ons. They can make a great tool. I am not sure why MS is not paying any attention to such a great functionality.
Regards,
Kaushal
WLW rocks in image handling, much faster than WordPress editor. Would start immediately using RT version if that would be available.
I hope MS makes a new version of WLW OR at least make it opensource and let OSS community handle it from there.
I do like WLW, but abhor the installer package. It just cont connect from indie my work network, hangs and hangs. No proxy settings etc to redirect it. So are there any direct download links anyone knows of ?
Scott - The offline installers are here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials-install-offline-faq
I agree that there really needs to be a WinRT version of this app. Does anyone have a suggestion of a decent alternative in the meantime?
I love WLW, but I wish Microsoft released a Metro version of the application with the same functionality.
Bookmarked this post so that I can find the WLW shortcut. Wait, there is probably an easier way. :-)
Thanks for sharing the link! Been looking for this for the longest time~ :)
I'm using WLW it since a long time now & I love it. I used it for Blogger, SharePoint and now WordPress blog hosting. Amazing tool. I cam compile my post on-road while traveling and publish it whenever I get connectivity.
Thanks for putting this up here. Many bloggers will get to know about this nice tool.
Thanks for putting this up here. Many bloggers will get to know about this nice tool.
Nothing has ever come close to WLW. I've tried a number of them over the years and even had a minor fling with Word 2013's Blog Editor thingy (worked well enough but lacked plugins and the UX/Workflow was bordering on unusable).
This is one of our products I'd love to see get opened up to the community.
This is one of our products I'd love to see get opened up to the community.
WLW is one of those rare occurrences of a Microsoft product getting everything exactly right, and having no worthy competition. But of course the company doesn't seem to realize the value this has. But of course... it's free. What's the point when you can sell Word to do an inferior job? Sigh. I hope you succeed in whatever you're trying to do here...
I have used WLW for years, love it, and would also love to have a Windows Store version. I'd be upset and angry if it were abandoned, and hope it would at least get open-sourced if nothing else. Alternatively, I would pay money for it, although I think its free nature helps to open up blogging for the less technically aware.
There's a mild annoyance with the image handling - it's pretty great and much better than any alternative, but gets unhappy if you start authoring a post with graphics and then want to break it down into smaller posts. It's easy transferring text between posts, but not graphics. That's pretty much my only criticism.
There's a mild annoyance with the image handling - it's pretty great and much better than any alternative, but gets unhappy if you start authoring a post with graphics and then want to break it down into smaller posts. It's easy transferring text between posts, but not graphics. That's pretty much my only criticism.
Another vote here for WLW. I dread the day when will Microsoft drop it. The Microsoft Office team seem to think that Word 2013 is a blogging tool. Clearly the left hand does not know what the right hand hath wrought.
I'll add my +1, or "Me Too" to this. I also use Windows Live Writer to write my (admittedly sporadic) blog posts, but it's a great tool, and I'd hate to see it go away.
In fact, I was considering moving to a different blogging engine (FunnelWebBlog specifically) and the only thing that prevented me from doing that was the fact that FunnelWebBlog doesn't (yet) support WLW.
In fact, I was considering moving to a different blogging engine (FunnelWebBlog specifically) and the only thing that prevented me from doing that was the fact that FunnelWebBlog doesn't (yet) support WLW.
I love WLW. I feel the same way that I will keep using it as I haven't found anything better on the Windows Platform. I know they have tried to get Word to be that replacement, but it just isn't there. I really hope they don't let this just die.
Fully agreed!
I noticed this mess too - I even happened to install some outdated version (which does not update itself) from Microsoft servers because of this mess.
Apart from that: LiveWriter is awesome!
I noticed this mess too - I even happened to install some outdated version (which does not update itself) from Microsoft servers because of this mess.
Apart from that: LiveWriter is awesome!
I love WLW. I'm sure it'll get canned because that's what companies do with good tools.
I'm liking this tool. Seems to play well with my personal Wordpress install, and I see it supports a few other major platforms, as well. I think this tool redeems Microsoft for the horrible-ness that was Front Page. Very cool!
WLW FTW! I really hope the team (or management/leaders/etc) hear our support WLW and our pleas for future support/updates (or OSS'ing it... now wouldn't that be awesome! :)
+1 for WLW. I love this tool because it run local without an Internet connection.
How does the 2012 version and the current version of PreCode play together?
Microsoft does lots of great tools... for someone that can find them ! :)
Between broken links, outdated links, and packaging, that's becoming hard.
It is like Microsoft Message Analyzer. Still in beta,the best software for network and system troubleshoot ever made and free, I can't say how much I love this tool...
Except I needed the team to tell me how to download it in a comment of one of their blog post. -_-
All of that to say : Windows Live Writer 2012 I love you !
(By the way on duckduckgo, windows live writer appear first ;))
Between broken links, outdated links, and packaging, that's becoming hard.
It is like Microsoft Message Analyzer. Still in beta,the best software for network and system troubleshoot ever made and free, I can't say how much I love this tool...
Except I needed the team to tell me how to download it in a comment of one of their blog post. -_-
All of that to say : Windows Live Writer 2012 I love you !
(By the way on duckduckgo, windows live writer appear first ;))
I usually just send people to the "easy to remember" url: http://get.live.com - at least *I* can remember that!
Get Live .com
http://get.live.com - enjoy.
Get Live .com
http://get.live.com - enjoy.
Hi!
Really Windows Live Writer is the best. I think that it's the best part of Windows Live environment. After several years with my blog, I have never seen something better than Windows Live Writer.
Sometimes I use the Word's blog template to create new posts... but it's not the same...
Windows Live Writer is really awesome.
And another great point about Windows Live Writer: the opportunity to add plug-ins.
I really enjoy Windows Live Writer.
FH
Really Windows Live Writer is the best. I think that it's the best part of Windows Live environment. After several years with my blog, I have never seen something better than Windows Live Writer.
Sometimes I use the Word's blog template to create new posts... but it's not the same...
Windows Live Writer is really awesome.
And another great point about Windows Live Writer: the opportunity to add plug-ins.
I really enjoy Windows Live Writer.
FH
I too binged for it on google, and came up bare..
Live Writer is essential; I can't even recall the other blog tool that LW effectively replaced. I can't imagine this can't be a garage project for somebody, put it up on github or something.
Live Writer is essential; I can't even recall the other blog tool that LW effectively replaced. I can't imagine this can't be a garage project for somebody, put it up on github or something.
I enjoy using Live Writer for our blog posts. I hope the team continues to support it and improve upon it.
That's search engine creepiness for you. I binged "Windows Live Writer 2012" and I got the official Microsoft download, Live Essentials, CNet, related searches and Wikipedia.
Why to use WLW: easy: you can prepare posts OFFLINE and in advance.
The posts will be nearly 100% like the ones you have in WLW, that's why I use it for years now.
Even if WordPress has a nice editor, I feel at home while using WLW.
On the other hand, filehippo is a reliable source of files, until now, moreover it gives links to the software homepage.
The posts will be nearly 100% like the ones you have in WLW, that's why I use it for years now.
Even if WordPress has a nice editor, I feel at home while using WLW.
On the other hand, filehippo is a reliable source of files, until now, moreover it gives links to the software homepage.
Agreed - great Blog Writer and I have to confess I had not installed it on my new X1 Carbon - so thanks for the link as I found the download from your blog!
Windows Live Writer rocks! I've been using it for several years now, still haven't found anything comparable. Works beautifully with WordPress, Blogger, and even CodePlex doc pages. The thing freakin' rocks.
I get the sense that MS has let Writer stagnate a bit and perhaps is even contemplating killing it. Dear would-be-killers-of-WLW, please understand that WLW is the best blogging tool available for Windows.
I get the sense that MS has let Writer stagnate a bit and perhaps is even contemplating killing it. Dear would-be-killers-of-WLW, please understand that WLW is the best blogging tool available for Windows.
hi there sir.
just a small remark, I have to say that http://filehippo.com/ is really good and free and virus free (so far) service, that works for me. they offer selected installation packages in English and + small tool that scans your apps and gives you list of updates to your current system. tool is written in .net and btw they claimed that also download servers runs windows, just as a small remark.
anyway, I understand that you dont trust all those download sites, me neither, but this one you can trust :)
happy and productive day from Slovakia.
dušan
just a small remark, I have to say that http://filehippo.com/ is really good and free and virus free (so far) service, that works for me. they offer selected installation packages in English and + small tool that scans your apps and gives you list of updates to your current system. tool is written in .net and btw they claimed that also download servers runs windows, just as a small remark.
anyway, I understand that you dont trust all those download sites, me neither, but this one you can trust :)
happy and productive day from Slovakia.
dušan
But what plugins would you recommend?
I've tried a few code snippet ones and they never really worked for me. I always had to rely on the official plugin that WordPress built into their system.
Also, the Twitter plugin just recently decided to quit working.
I've tried a few code snippet ones and they never really worked for me. I always had to rely on the official plugin that WordPress built into their system.
Also, the Twitter plugin just recently decided to quit working.
Love Windows Live Writer, but can we ditch the automatic theme creation post - the web is littered with this fake post that just seems not to get deleted automatically, Please :)
Am using WLW always, as you said it is the best for the windows. I wrote a plug-in for it too, it seems that they are not updating the plug-in site anymore. I mailed two times with the updates but they never got published :(
If only we could get it open sourced on GitHub, it could have a glorious life for years to come :(
@kzu, If it was opensourced to GitHub then we'd also have a Metro app in a very short amount of time too. I pretty sure I wouldn't be the only happy to donate time on that. Anybody know somebody in the right MS team to suggest this?
I've always just remembered http://get.live.com.
+1E10 for LW though - it's certainly the best blog authoring tool I know.
+1E10 for LW though - it's certainly the best blog authoring tool I know.
Is quite depressing that not even Microsoft can maintain a proper index of its products.
They need to get a bunch of stuff in order to comeback onto the game.
Is a sad thing for a company that has great ideas but very poor execution for most of its products.
They need to get a bunch of stuff in order to comeback onto the game.
Is a sad thing for a company that has great ideas but very poor execution for most of its products.
Absolutely with you on this one! In fact, I even blogged about it some time ago to let people know what code plug-in I enjoy the most! See Windows Live Writer: Paste Code Plug-in
:)
:)
I was looking for info on WLW before downloading it. I'm frequently in areas where I am "off line" - no internet available - and would love to use that time to write for my (blogger) blog. I have a Surface Pro Tablet that I'd love to start writing more blog posts with - wonder if it works with the touch screen? It's Microsoft, so I can't imagine why they wouldn't make it compatible. Glad to see so many people can't live without it - confirms that I too need to have it.
Michelle Jamieson / newengland-style.com
Michelle Jamieson / newengland-style.com
Hi Scott,
Thanks for this article. but, why Microsoft don't update this link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8621
Thanks for this article. but, why Microsoft don't update this link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8621
Thank you Scott!
It's strange what a low profile MS keeps on such a great product, while being so vocal for the crappy ones.
It's strange what a low profile MS keeps on such a great product, while being so vocal for the crappy ones.
I love Windows Live Writer with all my hearth. I'd love to see Microsoft carrying this product forward. Please use your "hansel-power" and don't make it die :)
I could not live without Writer. Add me to the list of fans.
I am also a huge Live Writer fan. I manage several blogs for myself and clients and it's my go-to tool for publishing to them. I hope they do not get rid of it. Just got a new laptop and forgot where to download it. So happy to see this post and all the Writer love!
Thanks a lot of this, I love WLW more than I open a browser and write blog on it... Surely this would help other blogger. Greets from Indonesia..
Also a huge WLW fan! I'll cross my fingers with the rest of you, that it doesn't vanish. I've been trying to work without it for several months (after switching to Windows 8) but headed into a big project with lots of images and screenshots. Can't imagine creating all the finicky images and uploading them from right within WP. Thanks for the link & great post.
I just started using WLW, and so far I'm impressed. My current CMS often logs me out while writing an entry, which is extremely frustrating. WLW might provide a means of reducing that frustration. Thanks!
I've been using it off and on for years - keep coming back to it. Thanks!
I enjoy the fact that I can compose messages offline. I often find myself traveling and we all know how much hotel room wifi can suck. The built in editor doesn't cut it then, especially when you're trying to upload large photos, like I do for my photography blog. :) Thanks for this link!
I've long been a fan of Windows Live Writer, and, yes, this post is very important, particularly for others to find this great blogging tool. What I especially like about this blog (done in Windows Live Writer 2012), is that all the references to Live Writer 2012 in the blog article and in comments will just raise the SEO for the search engines! Especially when enclosing key words and phrases in bold and italics!
Long live the blogger! And Long Live WLW 2012. BTW, you can download Windows Live Writer 2012 from the links at the top of this page. :)
hehe
Long live the blogger! And Long Live WLW 2012. BTW, you can download Windows Live Writer 2012 from the links at the top of this page. :)
hehe
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